The architectural phase of Calgary Wild FC has reached a sudden inflection point.
Lydia Bedford, the head coach who steered the club through the turbulence of its inaugural Northern Super League (NSL) season, is departing the Canadian prairies to return to the heart of English football.
The Football Association (FA) confirmed Monday that Bedford has been appointed as the permanent head coach of the England Women’s Under-23s.
FA’s women’s technical director, Gavin Step, noted that the U23 level is a crucial stage in preparing the next generation for the rigors of international football.
“I’m really pleased to welcome Lydia back to the FA to build on the excellent progress made within the WU23s programme in recent years,” Step said.
“The under-23s represent a crucial stage in our pathway, serving as the bridge between development football and the senior team, while preparing our most talented young players to take the next step at international level.”
Bedford will step into the technical area immediately for the April window and oversee fixtures against the Netherlands and either Sweden or Norway as the team competes in the final stages of the European Competition in Spain.
“I’m so excited to be rejoining the FA and becoming head coach of the WU23s is a huge honour,” she said. “This is a really talented group of players with enormous potential, and I can’t wait to guide them through such an important stage of their journey and help them push towards the senior Lionesses.”
The move marks a high-profile homecoming for a coach whose resume has become a blueprint for breaking glass ceilings in the modern game.
A legacy of firsts
Bedford’s tenure in Calgary was defined by the grit required to build a professional culture from scratch. Under her watch, the Wild navigated a debut season that saw them finish fifth in the six-team circuit, with nine wins, 14 losses, and two draws.
While the standings reflected the growing pains of a new franchise, Bedford’s impact was measured in the foundations and culture she referenced in her parting statement.
“It has been a privilege to lead Calgary Wild FC through its inaugural season,” Bedford said. “I’m proud of the foundations… established in the first year of the club’s journey. I have no doubt the team is well-positioned to achieve exciting things this season.”
Her departure closes a chapter of rapid-fire career milestones. Before arriving at the McMahon Stadium, Bedford made history as the first female head coach of a Premier League boys’ academy side at Brentford MU18s.
That role followed a stint in the Women’s Super League (WSL) with Leicester City and an assistant role at Arsenal, establishing her as one of the most versatile tactical minds.
Time for a transition in the ‘Wild’
Calgary hasn’t had to look far for a successor.
Sinead McSharry, previously the first assistant under Bedford, has been elevated to interim head coach. McSharry, an English compatriot of Bedford’s with a strong pedigree from the U.S. collegiate system at St. Lawrence University, faces a tight turnaround.
“We wouldn’t be where we are as a club today without Lydia,” McSharry remarked, acknowledging the heavy lifting done during the 2025 campaign.
The Wild’s leadership structure is also seeing broader reinforcements as the club announced the hiring of Caitlin Pavone as Director of Football Operations to stabilize the front office during this coaching transition.
While for Bedford the journey leads her back to St. George’s Park, where the objective shifts from building a club to refining the future of the European champions, a new era for the Wild kicks off on April 25 at McMahon Stadium against Montreal Roses FC.
